Australia's estimated resident population (ERP) reached 24.2 million at 30 June 2016, increasing by 3.8 million people or 18% in the ten years since 30 June 2006.

All states and territories experienced population growth between 2006 and 2016. Victoria had the largest growth in terms of absolute numbers (1.1 million people), followed by New South Wales (996,600) and Queensland (840,900).

Western Australia's population grew fastest (that is it had the strongest growth rate) in the ten years to 2016 (mainly due to strong growth between 2006 and 2011), increasing by 25%, followed by Victoria (22%), Queensland (21%), the Australian Capital Territory (20%), Northern Territory (18%) and New South Wales (15%). Tasmania had the slowest growth (5.8%) followed by South Australia (10%).

The combined population of Greater Capital Cities increased by 2.9 million people (22%) between 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2016, accounting for 77% of the country's total population growth.

Melbourne had the largest growth of all Greater Capital Cities in the ten years to 2016 (964,600), followed by Sydney (773,600), Brisbane (452,000) and Perth (445,100).

Darwin had the fastest growth (29%) between 2006 and 2016, ahead of Perth (28%), Melbourne (26%) and Brisbane (24%).

Five of the ten Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s) with the largest population growth in Australia between 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2016 were suburbs of Greater Melbourne, including Tarneit (up by 28,800 people) in the outer west, the inner city SA2 of Melbourne (26,200) and Cranbourne East (22,600) in the south-east. Other outer-suburban SA2s to experience high growth included Ellenbrook (23,600) in Perth's north-east and Parklea - Kellyville Ridge (22,200) in Sydney's north-west.

Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters in Perth's south-east had the fastest growth of all SA2s in Australia between 2006 and 2016 (1,480%). This was followed by three outer-suburban SA2s in Greater Melbourne: Doreen in the north-east and Truganina in the west (both 700%) and Cranbourne East (530%).

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH IN 2006-2016

ERP AT 30 JUNE

CHANGE

2006

2016pr

2006-2016pr

National rank & SA2(a)

GCCSA

no.

no.

no.

%

LARGEST GROWTH

1 Tarneit

Greater Melbourne

7 740

36 532

28 792

372.0

2 Baldivis

Greater Perth

6 936

34 287

27 351

394.3

3 Melbourne

Greater Melbourne

15 249

41 473

26 224

172.0

4 Ellenbrook

Greater Perth

13 671

37 251

23 580

172.5

5 Cranbourne East

Greater Melbourne

4 230

26 826

22 596

534.2

6 Parklea - Kellyville Ridge

Greater Sydney

11 498

33 702

22 204

193.1

7 North Lakes - Mango Hill

Greater Brisbane

9 157

31 141

21 984

240.1

8 Truganina

Greater Melbourne

3 128

24 977

21 849

698.5

9 Doreen

Greater Melbourne

2 733

21 904

19 171

701.5

10 Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters

Greater Perth

1 276

20 111

18 835

1 476.1

FASTEST GROWTH (b)

1 Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters

Greater Perth

1 276

20 111

18 835

1 476.1

2 Doreen

Greater Melbourne

2 733

21 904

19 171

701.5

3 Truganina

Greater Melbourne

3 128

24 977

21 849

698.5

4 Cranbourne East

Greater Melbourne

4 230

26 826

22 596

534.2

5 Pimpama

Rest of Qld

1 728

9 620

7 892

456.7

6 Baldivis

Greater Perth

6 936

34 287

27 351

394.3

7 Tarneit

Greater Melbourne

7 740

36 532

28 792

372.0

8 Peregian Springs

Rest of Qld

1 662

7 607

5 945

357.7

9 Rosebery - Bellamack

Greater Darwin

1 607

7 062

5 455

339.5

10 Bertram - Wellard (West)

Greater Perth

3 624

14 610

10 986

303.1

(a) National Rank based on population change between June 2006 and June 2016. See paragraphs 24 and 25 of the Explanatory Notes.(b) Excludes SA2s with a population of less than 1,000 at June 2006.